A group of pirates that roamed along the shores of Cape May were called Mooncussers. These clever pirates would form a line of horses along the beach with lanterns tied from their saddles. 

 

On dark or moonless nights, ships heading to ports up and down the Delaware River would see the row of lights along the shore. Thinking it was a ship in distress, the ships heading to ports would try to come alongside to help, only to run a ground in the shallow water near the beach. 

 

The Mooncussers would launch small boats and row out to plunder the stranded ships. These land pirates earned the name "Mooncussers" because their clever plan couldn't be carried out on bright moonlit nights, so they cussed at the moon. 

 

Mooncussers roamed shorelines from the Carolinas to Main. Blackbeard and Captain Kidd were two pirates who are rumored to have buried treasure in the Cape May area.